At what age did you become a dad, and did you feel prepared?

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41 and nothing can prepare you but I guess I was much more mature to understand the situation and responsibility. Even at 31 I wouldn’t have appreciated the depths of the love and despair the parenting journey will take you on.

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2 boys... At 31& 35... Still learning on the job.. always super exciting... 😄

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36, You are never prepared but looking back I feel good I did not rush into this responsibility and I had enough time to do things I like before my life is fully dedicated to my kid for the next 18 years before he goes to college

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29 and 11 years later still learning on the job!

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31. You are never prepared

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29.

Didn’t feel prepared but realized I never would so said f it, let’s ride.

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19. No!!

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31 and no, nothing can prepare you for those first two months. You’ll never stop learning on the job as a commenter said above, but eventually you’ll get a sense that you can handle it.

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34 and the best thing to help prepare was taking care of other friends new borns and toddlers, and reading a bunch of books to fill gaps I still didn’t experience. However, nothing will prepare you for how tired you will be.

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35 n 38 - wish we did it earlier when I was more athletic and less busier in my career!

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29, 31, and 36. Never since my firstborn has a day gone by that I have been “prepared”

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27, 29, and 32.

First wasn’t planned and was a 32 week preemie, nothing can prepare you for that. Second was probably the easiest early on. Third moved us from man to zone coverage which took a lot of adjusting.

Nothing will ever fully prepare you for any stage, you’re just along for the ride hoping to raise a decent human being. The fact that you’re asking this question means you’re already on the right track.

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30. And no

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33 and 35. I don’t think it’s possible to feel prepared, especially for the 1st. But everyone figures out how to survive.

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28.

You can definitely prepare, but dont think for a second that you'll ever be 'ready!'

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30! Nothing can prepare you, just ride the wave and have a blast!!

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28

Absolutely not, still don’t feel prepared.

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37. Everybody figures it out as they go.

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25. Plenty prepared for the tactical stuff (diapers, feedings, putting to sleep), but the emotional and bigger picture stuff changes weekly.

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25. All you can do is your best, and when that’s not enough, hand the baby to your partner.

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